The Fundamental Basis of Violence


Violence and nonviolence do not depend on an act but on the intention behind it. The basis of violence is anger, lust, hatred, jealousy, greed, frustration and aggression.

A surgeon cuts open a person’s belly; so does a criminal. The action is similar but the surgeon’s intention is to save life and the criminal’s is to destroy it. Violence or nonviolence is determined by the attitude and not by the act.

Even a war can be nonviolent if it is devoid of anger, hatred, jealousy, or greed and if its intent is to educate those who cannot be educated in any other way. A war can be an act of compassion if it helps to establish the right perspective.

Even charity can be an act of violence if it takes away self-esteem and inflicts slavery.